Musician Spotlight: Ruth Johnson

Meet Ruth!

Ruth plays cello in the orchestra, and is the Chair of the Orchestra Council, and is the Orchestra Representative on our Board of Directors!

Ruth grew up in Missoula, but finished her middle and high school years in Helena. She has strong ties to both towns. She said music was always present in her family. Social events included singing around the piano and her Dad played classical records every night. He knew every composer's style! Her parents and brothers were in the Symphonic Choirs in both Missoula and Helena. Any time the newspaper came to photograph the choir for a concert, her mothers photo would be in the paper. She says her parents were integral in my choosing the cello. “Thanks go to my Mom and Dad.”

She comes from a long line of University of Montana Grizzlies. She says, “I had super teachers in the UM music department.” She also did a student exchange year at the University of Massachusetts and a summer near Tanglewood; the summer home for the Boston Symphony. She later got a masters at MSU in Bozeman. “I am a firm supporter of both our Montana universities!” Her parents met in Great Falls and her mother taught English at Great Falls High School, but she first came to Great Falls as a music education student to do her student teaching with the best music teachers in the state! 

“I was so lucky to teach orchestra in Montana for 35 years. It was a really great career. The first 10 in Kalispell and the last 25 in Great Falls, 21 of those at Great Falls High School! Since retiring in 2022 you can find me working downtown at Pizazz - I can’t resist a great kitchen store, so it’s a perfect fit for a foodie like me. It’s also fun to run into students and friends.”

She has been playing in Montana symphonies for over 40 years! She’s played in the Great Falls Symphony for the last 28 years, but before that she played in the Helena Symphony in high school, the Missoula Symphony throughout college and then joined the Glacier Orchestra when she started teaching in Kalispell! Currently she is serving as the Orchestra Representative to the Board. “It is my honor to be a voice for our Orchestra Musicians!”

“I love playing my cello in the Great Falls Symphony! It’s an exhilarating experience when our friends and patrons come to hear what we’ve prepared; music is meant to be shared. It’s also spectacular fun to play with great soloists; Yoyo Ma was my favorite!”

Ruth has been married to Gordon Johnson, our Great Falls Symphony Conductor Emeritus, for 33 years. They have two adult boys, Max and Alex. “We’ve had many wonderful musical memories with the Great Falls Symphony; but I’ll never forget bringing our newborn son Max out at the end of our holiday concert 32 years ago. Next up for us- becoming grandparents in January. We’re thrilled!”

She said she couldn’t pick a favorite piece of music, but is a lover of the big romantic works. “I can’t wait to play Mahler’s 2nd Symphony this Spring.” Her favorite classical pieces for the Christmas season would include; Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti and Britten’s, Ceremony of Carols. She said she also loves musicals!

See Ruth onstage in the cello section during the upcoming Search Season! Learn more about the upcoming search and the Music Director candidates coming to Great Falls next season by clicking the button below.

Learn More About The Search